The inside scoop on food in Los Angeles

Shin-Sen-Gumi to open in Little Tokyo

August 23, 2011 | 12:25
pm

Mitsuyasu Shigeta's empire of Shin-Sen-Gumi restaurants is expanding to Little Tokyo. The sign is already up at the former Izayoi space on Central Avenue (between 1st and 2nd streets), and a Sept. 8 opening is planned, says president Nori Kamiya.

Kamiya says the Little Tokyo Shin-Sen-Gumi will serve Hakata ramen (other Shin-Sen-Gumi locations specialize in ramen, yakitori grilled chicken or chanko stew), the style of ramen from northwestern Kyushu known for its thick, pork bone-based tonkotsu soup. Shin-Sen-Gumi uses Berkshire pork and filtered water, cooking the soup for more than 15 hours, "with a strong flame from a commercial-grade jet burner," according to its website. Its cha-shu (roast pork) is prepared with its secret sauce, and the noodles (thinner, Hakata-style noodles) are specially sourced.

The ramen is sort of make-your-own, in that you select the doneness of the noodles and the thickness and richness of the soup. Extra noodles are an option. So is a spicy miso broth.